Convertible step-ladder and ironing-board.



J. W. MATHENY.

CONVERTIBLE STEP LADDER AND IRONING BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1914.

1,153,558. Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPM 1:0..WA51-11NUTON, D. c.

1|. w. MATHENY.

CONVERHBLE STEP LADDER AND IRONING BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. l9l4.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

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ammo/1 7 COLUMB1A PLANOGRAPH COII'WASHINCITON- D. c.

JAMES W. MATHENY, or MOBILE, ALABAMA.

CONVERTIBLE STEP-L'ADDER- AND IRoNING-BoARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filed December 7, 1914. Serial 1\l;0. 875,913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, JAMEs XV. MATHENY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Mobile, county of Mobile, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Step-Ladders and Ironing-Boards, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device adjusted for use as a step-ladder; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the device adjusted for use as an ironing-board; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 5 is a sec-. tion on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple structure which may be readily converted into an ironing-table or a step-' ladder at will, and the invention consists of certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the step-ladder form of the apparatus, a designates a pair of bars rigidly connected together at one end by the top board or step b and at intermediate points by means of the steps 0, the pivotal connections for each step consisting of a rod (Z passing through the step near its front edge and through the side bars a. A pair of leg members 6 is pivoted to the top board I), and a pair of brace rods 9 connects the bars a to said leg members 6, the connection between these brace rods 9 and the leg mem-' bers being a pin and slot connection (the v slot being shown at 71. in the leg members) to permit the leg members to be folded in close to the side bars a.

The steps 0 are supported at their inner edges by a pair of bars z pivotally connected by links 7' to the bars a and notched along their front edges for the reception and sup port of said inner edges of the steps. When the step-ladder is erected as shown in Fig. 1. the bars 11 swing inwardly until their lower ends rest upon the floor, by which they are supported, and in which position they stand parallel with the front bars a. When the 'larly in Fig. 5.

apparatus is to be used as an ironing-table, the bars 2' are swung on the links 7' into position between the bars a, as shown in Fig. 4, and the steps are swung upwardly on their rods (Z so as to lie parallel with-the bars a and 2 and in alinement with each other, as shown in Fig. 3. The steps are sufficiently wide to bring their edges together when thus folded, so as to present a continuous ironing surface flush. with the front or upper edges of the bars a. The bars 2' bear against the rear or under faces of the steps and hold them in alinement, these bars i being secured in position in any suitable manner, prefer- 79, shown particuably by the snap-catches The leg members 6 are adusted to the proper height by shifting braces g, and, to steady the apparatus when thus used as an ironing-table, I provide a supplemental leg member Z shorter than the main leg frame and pivoted to the top board 6 by the same bolt or rod that secures the members 6 to said board. This leg frame Z, when not in use, is swung into position between the legs 6 and is locked there by suitable catches m, similar in character to catches in. When the apparatus is thus used as an ironing-table, the top board 6 will as sume the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position it will serve as a rigid stop to limit the outward swing of the supplemental leg frame Z. To still further steady the device when used as an ironing-table, it is obvious that the free ends of the bars a may be arranged to rest upon a table or other suitable support.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A convertible step-ladder and ironing table, comprising a ladder platform, a fixed leg frame connected to said platform and carrying a set of steps adapted to fold between the legs thereof to form a table top, a main pivoted leg frame connected to the platform, a pair of rigid braces having a pivotal connection with the fixed leg frame and a movable connection with the main pivoted leg frame whereby said pivoted leg frame is adapted to form a folding stepswung backwarclly into engagement with the platform to form a seconclpair of table legs, said supplemental leg frame. being adapted to lie between the main leg frame,

means being provided for looking the supplemental leg frame to the main leg frame. 10

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES W. MATHENY. WVitnesses: 3 l

A. Gr. KELLY, R. V. NICOLLS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G. 

